NewRiver: Canvey Island Retail Park, Essex

In June 2016, on behalf of our client NewRiver, NJL submitted a planning application for 7,920sqm of A1 retail floorspace and a 167sqm Costa Drive Through at a site on Canvey Island. The site lies on the edge of Canvey Island adjacent to Roscommon Way and to the south of an existing Morrisons Unit. The application submission coincidentally was almost a year since NewRiver purchased the site from Morrisons. Canvey Island formed one of the thirteen sites which comprise the 'Ramsay Portfolio' (all formerly owned by Morrisons).

The ‘out of centre’ site already had outline consent for 4,877sqm of A1 non-food retail floorspace, therefore, NJL undertook 10 months of discussions with the Local Authority and relevant professionals before the application for the larger scheme was submitted. As well as the Costa Drive Through, the development incorporates a 2,369sqm unit for occupation by B&M, a 1,394sqm unit to be occupied by Sports Direct, a 1,602sqm foodstore as well as two other 1,045sqm non-food units.

The site is a former commercial site with known contamination, that is within Flood Zone 3a and adjacent to an SSSI, therefore, there are significant environmental factors that needed to be addressed within the application package.

NJL’s role has been to establish the scope of the planning application and coordinate the consultant team to prepare their submission documents as well a writing a Planning and Retail Statement that included a full retail impact assessment and sequential test.

Once the application had been submitted to Castle Point Borough Council, NJL monitored the application and liaised with the Council in relation to consultation responses and negotiation of planning conditions. The planning application was approved at Planning Committee in November 2016.

Since the consent was granted, NJL has continued our role as planning advisor to NewRiver. Along with the wider project team, we are now working towards discharging all pre-commencement conditions so work can start promptly.

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